Martha Stewart's personality cult is alive and well. Having sought to distance itself from its founder after her conviction on insider trading charges, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has swerved back in the opposite direction with its latest product, the Martha Stewart Newsletter. It's indispensable for anyone who requires detailed, up-to-date information about the contents of Stewart's medicine cabinet, stable, or colon.
The four-page inaugural issue of the new publication features six photos of Stewart and 70 mentions of her name. It also contains the following paean from Dr. Brent Ridge, MSLO's health expert: "Anyone reading this newsletter undoubtedly finds inspiration in Martha. Maybe you admire her baking abilities. Perhaps you envy her garden. Her intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit have their devotees, too. As a physician, what I admire most is the way in which she incorporates personal well-being into everything she does." (And if you require particulars, Stewart details her nutrition, exercise, sleep, and skin care regimens on the following page.)